Joey Feek watched an inspiring video message from her idol, country music legend Dolly Parton, just months before she lost her battle with stage IV cervical cancer on Friday, March 4. Her loving husband, Rory, shared the sweet clip on his blog, This Life I Live, as he announced her untimely death.
“From the time she was four years old, Joey had been singing Dolly’s songs and dreamed of one day meeting her,” Rory, 49, wrote. “’Coat of Many Colors’ was a regular part of our show and at home she loved to put on Dolly and listen to ‘Hello God,’ ‘When I Sing for Him,’ ‘Me and Little Andy’ and many others. She never got the chance to meet her in person and had no idea that Dolly even knew who she was. But that changed one Friday evening this past November.”
He explained, “Joey’s family, Russdriver and I gathered around Joey’s bedside to watch the movie Hope Floats (one of the few movies Joey knew and loved) with her. But instead of pushing play on the DVD, I pushed play on the video I had received… and we all watched Joey watch. It was the most beautiful moment I have ever been part of.”
In the touching video, Parton, 70, appears on screen, saying, “Joey and Rory, I’ve loved you for years… Joey, I just want you to know that I really appreciate the fact that you’ve often done my songs, talked about me at different times. I’ve heard that you’re a big fan. Well, I want you to know I appreciate that and I want you to know I’m sorry that you’re not feeling good. But I know we have something in common. We both believe in a higher power. We believe that, through God, all things are possible. So you keep praying, and I’ll keep praying for you. I just think that you’re wonderful and I know that God’s proud of you. I just wanted to take a chance to say thank you for loving me, and I’ll be loving you.”
Joey is shown watching the message from her bed, with tears in her eyes and a surprised look on her face, before hugging Rory and saying, “I love you.”
Joey died on Friday, March 4, in her hometown of Alexandria, Indiana, at the age of 40.
Watch the touching moment above.
